Oil and gas saving bailer



Sept 13,. 1938. A. D. PURTLE Er AL 2,130,026

OIL GAS SAVING BAILER Sept. 13, 1938. A. D, PURTLE ET A1.

OIL AND GAS SAVING BAILER Filed March 21, 1938 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 .E PzvZZe 3 ellnaawaeli INVIINTOILS- ATTORNEYS.

Patented sept. 131938 UNITED sTATii'sl PATENT OFFICE OIL AND GAS SAVING Alter-'t n. Parue, Marietta, ohio, and James Ralph Broadwater, Toll Gate, W. Va.

Application March 21, 1938, Serial No. 197,240

This invention to provide novel means whereby liquid can be hailed'out of an oil or gas Well, especially a gas well, without loss o oil` or gas, thecbailing being done under pressure, the

natural gas pressure vin the well serving to dis- I l5 tion appertains..

With theabove and other objects in view, Y

Fig. 1 shows in longitudinal section, the upper part of a device constructed in accordance with the invention, Fig. 1a being a longitudinal sec` tion illustrating a downward continuation of the parts shown in Fig-1;

Fig. 2 is a cross section on the line 2-2 of Fig. 15.' -4 T Figs. 3 and 4 are cross sections taken, respec tively, on the lines 3-3 and 4-4 of Fig. la; .Fig. 5 is a longitudinal section showing a modification;

Fig. 6-is a. longitudinal section showing another modification;

Fig. 'I is a cross section on the line 'l--l of 40 Fig. 6.

Fig. 8 is a detailed sectional view of a modied cap plate in which the depending tube is a hushing threadable into the said cap plate.

Referring to Figs. 1 to 4, the numeral I marks a Well casing having'a lateral outlet 2. `A casing head 3 is threaded or-connected otherwise with the upper end of the well casing I.

On the casing head 3 is superposed a cap plate 4, the cap plate and the casing head 3 being held together by securing elements 5. A lower recess 6 is formed in the upper portion of the casing head 3, and above .the recess 6 the casing head has an upper recess 1, of larger diameter than the lower recess 6. There is a recess 8 in the lower portion of the cap plate 4. The recesses together.

` side of t l and 8 are adapted to receive a split washer 9 having a hole through which extends downwardly a depending tube 10, formingpart of the capl plate 4. The washer 9 preferably is made of a cork composition. 'The purpose of the tube I0 is 5 to prevent the hole in the Washer 9 from closing when compressed between the casing head 3 and the cap plate 4 when those parts are drawn together by the bolts 5.v Otherwise the hole in the f washer 9 might become closed and prevent the 10 bailer (hereinafter described) from being emptied properly. 'By means of a lower nipple Il, communicating with the tube I0 ofthe cap plate 4, the cap plate 4 is connected to a coupling l2 having a laterally 16 Aextended valve I4, which is under the control of an operator.. Into the upper end of the coupling I2 is threaded a nipple I5, on which is'threaded a lower stuiing box I6, an upper stuning .box I1 being threaded on thelower stuing box, the 20v upper stuiiing box I'l being provided with an oil bowl I8.

The line I9 by which the bailer (hereinafter described) is raised and lowered, passes downwardly through the oil bowl 'I8 and through the 2e;4 stuffing boxes Il and. I6. The oil bowl I8 provides a means for lubricating the line I9 and the packing in the boxes I6 and I1.

The cap plate 4 may he formed with the tube I9 integral therewith, or the same may-be welded 30 We have'shown a detail view in Fig. 8, wherein t e bushing Ellis threaded into the lower cap plate 4 and extends below the e gasket 9.

The lower stuffing box I6 may be loosened to 35 eliminate wear on the packing material therein,

vbut the upper part I1 of the stuiiing box structure is` kept tight, to pack around the line I9 and prevent leakage while the bailer is being run. The line I9 may he reciprocated as many 40 times as is necessary to removethe-liquid from the well. IAfter the hailing has been completed, theower stuiling box I6 should be tightened, av loss of gas thus being prevented, even though the upper stuffing box I'I should stand in needof` 451 The lower tubular section 25 serves to prevent cavings from the bottom of the well hole from disturbing the action of a foot valve, to be described hereinafter, and in order to facilitate the operation of the bailer, the lower tubular section 25 may be perforated, as indicated at 26, or otherwise The upper end of the lower tubular section 25y of the bailer is joined to the intermediate tubular section 24 by a coupling 21 provided with a partition 23 in which is removably mounted a valve seat 23. With the upper end of the valve seat 23 cooperates a downwardly closing valve 33, the upper portion of which is conical. 'A stem 3I is secured to the lower end of the valve 33 by a lock nut 32. Anelongated cage 33 is secured to the. valve stem 3| and operates in the lower tubular section 25 of the bailer. 'I'he cage 33, acting as a guide cooperating with the lower tubular section 25, aids in securing a proper opening and closing of the valve 33.

A threaded coupling 34 connects the upper end of the intermediate tubular bailer section 24 with the upper tubular bailer section 23. The coupling 34 is provided with any desired number of openings 35 for the passage of liquid. A coupling 35 is threaded into a partition 3l, forming part of' the coupling 34, the lower end of the line'ls being babbitted into the socket.

Threaded upon the upper end of the upper tubular section 23 of the bailer is a cap 33 hav-f 33. The line or suspension member I3 passes through the tubular stem 4I. A valve 43 is threaded on the upper end of the stem 4I and is held in place Aby a lock nut 44 on the stem. 'Ihe lock nut 44 serves as an abutment for one end ofl a compression spring 45 which abuts against the gland 43 and keeps the packing of the gland 4l engaged with thetubular part 33. The spring 45 has a cushioning action, also, which will be described hereinafter.

In practical operation, the bailer is lowered into the well until the stem 3l opens the valve 3l, and the bailer illls. 'Ihe bailer is drawn upwardly, and the valve 33 closes, the liquid to be removed being trapped Vin the bailer. By'means of the line I3, the bailer is raised until the valve 4 3 comes into contact with .the washer 3, which vis thick and of compressible material, a'cushioned and tight closure ythus being effected between the valve 43 and the part 3. It will be observed that -the washer '3 has av dual use, in that it acts as a gasket and also as aseat forthe valve 43. The washer 3 can be easily replaced when worn or and the gas pressure in the well unseats the valve aisanceV 33 and forces the liquid in the bailer upwardly through the tubular stem 4I, the tube I 3, and the nipple'I I, the liquid in the bailer passing through the coupling I2 and through the valve I4, the liquid nding an exit by way of a pipe 45, connected to the valve I4. IItis necessaryto open the valve I4 for an instant only, and there is no loss of gas to speak of, in the emptying of the bailer. The bailer empties through its upper end, ordinarily, and does not dump at the bottom. If desired, however, the cap plate 4 may be removed from the casing I together with valve I4 and thev devicemay be used as an ordinary outside dumping bailer.

During the upward movement of the stem 4I,

carrying with it the bailer, the spring 45 of In Fig. 5, parts hereinbefore described have.4

been designated by numerals previously used, with the suffix b. In this form of the invention, the valve 43b is provided at its upper end bor 2I of -the sleeve 2li. The bore 2i has a dual' function, in that it serves as a guide for the valve 43 of Fig. 1, and as a seat for the valve washer 43e of Fig. 5.

In Figs. G and '1, parts hereinbefore described have been designated by numerals previously used, with the suilix c. A tapered nipple 43 is securedby any suitable mechanism shown at 50. to the upper end of the casing Ic, and the tubular, resilient 'washer 43c eifects a closure by coming into contact with the tapered -lnner surface 5I of the nipple 43.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed is:

l. In a device ofthe class described, a well casing, outlet means assembled `with the upper end of the'casing, a bailer vertically movable in the casing and having outlet means at its upper end, mechanism for raising the bailer until the outlet means of th'ebailer makes a'. tight joint with the outlet means of the casing, a rst valve under the control of an operator and governing the flow through the outlet means of the casing, and a second valve carried bythe lower portion of 'the bailer and so constructed as to open under gas pressure in the casing, when the first valve is opened by an operator, thereby permitting the gas pressure of the well to evacuate the bailer through both of said outlet means.

2. In a device of `the class'described, a well casing, outlet means assembled with the upper end of the casing, a tubular stem, means at the upper end of the stem for making a tight joint with the outlet means of the easing when the stem is raised, a bailer slidable upwardly on'the stem, a compression ,spring about the'stem and compressed when the bailer is slid upwardly on the stem, mechanism passing through the stem for raising the bailer and the stem and .then sliding the bailer upwardly on the stem, a first valve under the control of an operator and governing the flow through the outlet means of the casing, and a second valve ycarried by Athe. lower portion of the bailer and so constructed as to open under gas pressure in the casing, when the iirst valve through the stem and through the outlet means of the casing.

3. In a device of the class described, a cang, upper and lower stutling boxes threaded together .and embodying packings, the upper stuillng box being provided at its top with an oil bowl, means for connecting the lower stufng box threadedly with the casing, a bailer movable in the casing, a lifter for the bailer, the lifter passing through both stuiing boxes and their packings, and through the oil bowl, the lower stulllng box being capable of being partially Unthreaded to reduce the friction between the lifter and the packing of the lower stuillng box, and the upper stufiing box rerriaining tight, to cause its packing to 'embrace the lifter closely and prevent leakage about the lifter.

4. In a. device of the class described. a well casing, a casing head on the well casing, a cap plate, means for securing the 621D plate to the head, a

'combined compressible gasket and seat bound between the cap plate and the head, the cap plate being provided with a depending tube, the tube extending far enough through the gasket or seat to prevent a closing of said outlet by the gasket or seat, when the gasket or seat is compressed between the cap plate and the head, a

tubular stem, means at the upper end of the stem for making a tight joint with the gasket or seat -when the stem is raised, a bailer carried by the stem, mechanism passing through the stem and f the tube for raising the bailer until the means at the upper end of the stem makes a tight joint with the gasket or seat, a rst valve under the control of adoperator and governing the flow through the stem and the tube, and a second valve carried by the lower portion of the bailer and so constructed as to open under gas pressure in the casing when the first valve isopened by an operator, thereby permitting the gas pressure ,of the well to evacuate the bailer through the stem and the tube.

5. In a device of the class described, a well casing, a casing head on the well casing, a sleeve in the upper end of the head and having an upwardly tapered bore, a cap'plate, means for securing the cap plate to the head, a combined compressible gasket or seat compressed between the cap plate and the upper end of the sleeve, the cap plate being provided with a depending tube, the tube forming an outlet and preventing a closing of said outlet by the gasket or seat when the gasket or seat is bound between the cap plate and the sleeve, a tubular stem, means 5 at the upper end of the stem for making'a tight joint with the 'gasket .or seat when thestem is raised, the upwardly tapered bore guiding the Alast-specified means into engagement with the gasket or seat, a bailer carried by the stem,.mech anism passing through the stem and the/tube for raising the bailer until the means at the upper vend of the stemv makes a tight joint with the `1gasket or seat, a rst valve under the control of an operator and governing the flow through the stem and the tube, and a secondvalve carried by the lower portion of the bailerand so constructed as to open under gas pressure in the casing when the rst valve is opened by an operator, thereby permitting the gas pressure ofthe well to evacuate the bailer through the stem and the tube.

6. In a device of lthe class described, a well casing, a casing head on the well casing. a sleeve in the upper end of the head and having an upwardly tapered bore, a c-p plate, means for securing the cap plate to the head, a compressible gasket bound between the cap plate and the upper end of the sleeve, the cap plate being provided with a depending tube, the tube forming an outlet and preventing a closing of said outlet by the gasket when the gasket is compressed between the cap plate and the-head, a tubular stem,

mans at the upper end of the stem for making a tight joint in the upwardly tapered bore of the sleeve when the stem is raised, a bailer carried by the stem, mechanism Apassing through the stem and the tube f or raising the bailer until the means at the upper .end of the stem makes a tight joint in the upwardly tapered bore of the sleeve, a first valve under the control of an operator and governing the iow through the stem and the tuhe, and a second valve carried by the Y lower portion of the'bailer and so constructed as to open under gas pressure in the casing when the iirst valve is opened by an operator, thereby permitting theI gas pressure of the well to evacuate the bailer through the stem and the tube.

7. In a device of the class described, a well casing, a casing head on the well casing, a sleeve in the upper yend of the head and having an gasket or seat when the stem is raised, the up- 2^ wardly tapered bore guiding. the last specied means into engagement with the gasket or seat, a bailer carried by the stem, mechanism passing through the stem and the tube for raising the bailer until the means at the upper end of the stem makes a tight joint with the gasket or seat, a rst valve under the control of an operator and governing the ow through the stem and the tube, and a second valve carried by the lower portion of the bailer and so constructed as to open under gas pressure in the casing when the rst valve-is opened by an operator, thereby permitting the gas pressure ofy the well to evacuate the bailer through the stem and the bushing.

, ALBERT D. PUR'ILE.

JAMES RALPH BROADWATER. 

